Violin support



J. GALSTER March l2, 1968 VIOLIN SUPPORT Filed NOV. 28, 1966 United States Patent O Soborg, Denmark This invention relates to a violin support for supporting the violin against the humeral region of the player, the said support being of the kind retained during the use by clamping means engaging the lower part of the violin body.

Violin supports of the aforesaid kind are known and they are generally usedv to raise the violin from the humeral region of the playerl so that the players chin, which is resting against the surface of the violin body or a chin rest provided thereon, is enabled to render more convenient support to the instrument without the player having to bow his head so much that it is tiring to the cervical muscles over a longer period. It is only in exceptional cases that the violin is actually retained without being supported by the players left hand; the violin is, however, prevented from sliding down from the humeral region by the support given by the left hand of the player, 4but since this hand has furthermore to move freely along the finger board when playing, the player may be liable to attacks by the so-called violinists cramp, that is, convulsive contractions of the players muscles of the arm, since these muscles are over-exerted by the strain involved by the combined support land movement.

It is the object of the present invention wholly or partly to release the arm muscles of the player from the strain produced by retaining the neck of the violin, whereby the movability of the arms and the fingers is fully utilised for improving tonal quality and dexterity.

An essential feature of a violin support according to the invention is an adjustable leaf hinge attached to the underplate of the clamping means which plate is resting against the bottom edge of the violin, one leaf of the said hinge being screwed, soldered or wel-ded to the said underplate, its other leaf being adapted to be retained detachably to a cushion which is attached to the humeral region of the player or to a piece of clothing surrounding the said humeral region. The result obtained is that the violin is retained in a suitable angular position adjusted by the individual player without it being necessary for the player to support the neck of the violin, the outward ly projecting end of the violin being attached t the humeral region of the player or to the clothing surrounding the said region, whereby the muscles of the arm are secured against undue strain and the stopping may be performed by the fingers without risk of the violin losing its support. The chin rest generally used may be dispensed with in many cases and the player has in any case no more to press his chin vigorously against the said chin rest or the surface of the violin body.

In one embodiment of the violin support according to the invention the cushion is provided with a contact plate on such of its sides as during the use of the instrument is facing in the direction of the bottom of the violin, at least one of the parts, the other leaf and the contact plate being made preferably of permanent, magnetizable material.

The result obtained is that the two parts are retained to each other by means of the magnetic lines of force between the parts.

In another embodiment of the violin support according to the invention the cushion is provided with at least one bolt which is adapted to be introduced into and wedged in a corresponding oblong hole provided in the 3,372,614 Patented Mar. l2, 1968 ICC other leaf by being displaced at right angles to the axis of the hinge and in the direction from the edge of the leaf towards the said axis. As a result, the other leaf of the hinge may by simple displacement be attached to the bolt or bolts in the cushion.

yIn a third embodiment of the violin support according to the invention the upper side of the cushion is provided with a reinforcing plate from which the bolt or bolts project to provide contact of the said plate, and engagement of the bolts, with the other leaf, whereby a substantial increase in the friction between the other leaf and the reinforcing plate is obtained.

In a fourth embodiment of the violin support according to the invention the through-going pin of the leaf hinge is provided at one end with a head and at its other end with a clasp nut such as a wing nut. As a result, the violin can be retained in any desired angular position in relation to the surface of the cushion or the reinforcing plate.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a violin supported against the humeral region of a player by means of an embodiment of a violin support according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is the same, viewed in section at right angles to the leaf hinge of the violin support,

FIGURE 3 is another embodiment of the violin support according to the invention, viewed in perspective, and

FIGURE 4 shows the embodiment of the violin support according to the invention that is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, viewed in perspective.

In the drawing, 1 is a violin supported against the humeral region 2 of a player and of the kind retained during the use by clamping means 3 and 4 which engage the lower part S of the violin body. The clamping means 3 and 4 may in known manner be ldesigned as screwthreaded sleeves 6, in which are screwed threaded spindles 7. The sleeves 6 and the spindles 7 are at such of their ends as are remote from each other provided with an upper plate 8 and an underplate 9, respectively, which are wedged against the edge 10 of the belly and the edge 11 of the back by the clamping means 3 and 4. To prevent this attachment from effecting the resonance of the soundbox elastic intermediate layers 12 and 13 may be inserted between the plates 8, 9 and the edges 1d, 11 of the violin so that the pressure exerted by the clamping means 3, 4 is solely transmitted through the wall 14 of the violin. According to the invention an adjustable leaf hinge 15 is attached to the underplate 9. One l'leaf 16 of the said hinge is screwed on, soldered or welded to the underplate 9 and its other leaf 17 is adapted preferably to be detachably retained to a preferably resilient cushion 18 which is fastened to the humeral region 2 of the player or to a piece of clothing surrounding the said region, for example by means of bands 19 lying around the humeral region or buttons 20 sewed on the clothing or by means of clips or clamps (not shown) which engage edges of the said clothing and cooperate with a textile strip 21 attached along the underside of the cushion. The cushion 18 may as shown in FIGURE 3 in one embodiment of the violin support according to the invention be provided with a contact plate 22 on its upper surface which during the use of the instrument is facing in the direction of the bottom of the violin, and at least one of the parts, the other leaf 17 or the contact plate 22 is made of preferably permanent, magnetizable material so that the two parts are retained in relation to each other by means of the magnetic lines of force extending between the parts. In another embodiment of the violin support according to the invention the cushion 18 may be provided with at least one bolt 23 adaptedto be introduced and wedged in a corresponding oblong hole 24 in the other leaf 17 by being displaced at right angles to the axis of the leaf hinge and in the direction from the edge of the leaf towards the axis of the hinge. When a single bolt 23 is used the violin may be turned in the plane of the other leaf, whereas with two bolts the violin will be retained in position and prevented from turning in the said plane. In a special embodiment of the violin support according to the invention the upper side of the cushion 18 may be provided with a reinforcing plate 25 from which the bolt or the bolts 23 project to provide contact of the reinforcing plate 25, and engagement of the bolts 23, with the other leaf 17.

In a preferred embodiment of the violin support according to the invention the leaf hinge 1S has at one end of its through-going pin 26 a head 27, whereas the other'end of the said pin is provided with a clasp nut such as a wing nut 28 so that the violin may be retained in any angular position desired in relation to the surface of the cushion or reinforcing plate.

1t will be appreciated that the leaf hinge 15 may be attached to the clamping means 3, 4 for the chin rest ordinarily used, the leaf hinge 15 being screwed, soldered or welded t the underplate 9 of the chin rest, and it will also be appreciated that when the cushion 13 with the contact plate 22 or the reinforcing plate 25, if any, after the violin being used is removed from the other leaf 17, the said other leaf may be turned about the axis of the hinge so as to rest in contact with the bottom of the violin, thus not preventing the violin from being deposited in its transport box.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A violin support for supporting a violin against the humeral region of a player and of the kind retained during the use by clamping means engaging the lower part of the violin body, characterised in that an adjustable a leaf hinge is attached to the underplate of the clamping means, which underplate is resting against the bottom edge of the violin, one leaf of the said binge being screwed, soldered or welded to the said underplate, its other leaf being adapted to be .retained detachably to a cushion which is attached to the humeral region of the player or to a piece of clothing surrounding the said humeral region.

2. A violin support as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cushion is provided with a contact plate on such of its sides as during the use of the instrument is facing in the direction of the bottom of the violin, at least one of the parts, the other leaf and the contact plate being made preferably of permanent, magnetizable material.

3. A violin support as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cushion is provided with at least one bolt which is adapted to be introduced into and wedged in a corresponding oblong hole provided in the other leaf by being displaced at right angles to the axis of the hinge and in thel direction from the edge of the leaf towards the said axis.

4. A violin support as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the upper side of the cushion is provided with a reinforcing plate from which the bolt or bolts project to provide contact of the said plate, an-d engagement of the bolt, with the other leaf.

5. A violin support as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the through-going pin of the leaf hinge is provided at one end with a head and at its other end with a clasp nut such as a wing nut.

No references cited.

VRICHARD B. WlLKlNSON, Primary Examiner.

C. M. OVERBEY, Examiner. 

1. A VIOLIN SUPPORT FOR SUPPORTING A VIOLIN AGAINST THE HUMERAL REGION OF A PLAYER AND OF THE KIND RETAINED DURING THE USE BY CLAMPING MEANS ENGAGING THE LOWER PART OF THE VIOLIN BODY, CHARACTERISED IN THAT AN ADJUSTABLE LEAF HINGE IS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERPLATE OF THE CLAMPING MEANS, WHICH UNDERPLATE IS RESTING AGAINST THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE VIOLIN, ONE LEAF OF THE SAID HINGE BEING 